How to write a Check

For those of you just getting into the banking world, or for those that need a refresher course, this article will show you how to write a check. Sounds good? Lets begin….

First off, this is a blank check:

In the “Pay to the order of” field, you will write who it will be payable to. Use a name, don’t ever write it out to cash. Doing that means that anyone can cash your check. So many times when I see people write a check out to another person, I see cash as the one who it is payable to. Bad habit, so when writing a check out, write it exactly to that person or business.

You will then write in today’s date in the “Date” field. Write in the day, for example “9-27-08” “September 27, 2008”, whatever day it might be when writing out the check. Do not write it for yesterday’s date, or tomorrow’s date (pre-date or post-date), as you might run into legal issues when your payee wants to redeem your check. You must fill in the date, you cannot leave it blank.

Underneath the payee’s name, which was filled out in the previous step, you will see a line. In that line you will write out in written form, the amount you are paying your “payee”. This is one of the most important parts of the check. You have to write out exactly how much you are paying, for example, “One Hundred dollars and no/100” “Twenty-five dollars and 72/100”. At the payees bank, the teller will redeem the check for whatever amount is written there, no matter what is written in the box you will fill in on the next step.

In the box you see on the right of the check, you will enter the numerical amount you are paying the payee, for example, “100.00” “25.72”.

The last step is to sign your name on the bottom right line of the check. This is another important part of the check. When you sign there, you make the check legally binding to the payee and allow them to redeem that check for the exact written amount.

Optional is filling out the “memo” line. Usually you can write what the purchase was for (for you to remember), or for a message to the payee.

Any thoughts? Any Questions? Lets get the ball rolling on this topic and create a discussion around it. I am looking forward to what you will say.